[🇧🇩] Aviation Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Biman terms blockade over alleged irregularities in recruitment test as ‘propaganda’

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has termed the road blockade over alleged irregularities at the agency’s recruitment test as ‘propaganda’. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Mohammad Golam Azam said a group of students blocked the road in the capital’s Asad Gate area allegi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Biman terms blockade over alleged irregularities in recruitment test as ‘propaganda’
bdnews24.com
Published :
Mar 02, 2025 00:00
Updated :
Mar 02, 2025 00:00

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has termed the road blockade over alleged irregularities at the agency’s recruitment test as ‘propaganda’.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Mohammad Golam Azam said a group of students blocked the road in the capital’s Asad Gate area alleging a leak of question papers during Biman’s recruitment test at around 5:30pm on Saturday.

“They left the road shortly after and traffic returned to normal."

The test was suspended at two separate centres [Lalmatia Girls’ High School and College and Lalmatia Government Women's College] after the students took to the streets in the evening over the allegation of irregularities in the exam.

In a statement, Biman said the recruitment test for the position of “Commercial Assistant” was held on Saturday.

The examination was conducted by Dhaka University’s Institute of Business Administration, or IBA, which was responsible for the preparation of question papers, centres, and evaluation of test papers.

According to Biman, a total of 31,917 candidates appeared in the exam at 15 centres.

Out of them, question papers for two centres arrived 22 minutes after the scheduled time due to heavy traffic on the road.

The exam was scheduled to commence at 3pm. When the vehicles carrying test papers arrived at the centres, a group of people standing outside the centres blocked them without any “provocation”, sparking the “propaganda” of question paper leak, the airline said.

Later, police reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control.

Apart from these two, the exams were conducted peacefully at 13 other centres, the national flag carrier said.

When contacted on behalf of Biman, the IBA authorities claimed their question-carrying vehicles were stopped by a group of people.

Alongside this they “illicitly” spread “rumours” of question leaks, prompting the suspension of the test at those centres.

The authorities added that legal action is being taken in this regard. They will inform Biman about the decision concerning those two test centres.

In the statement, Biman also says it believes a group of people blocked the question-carrying vehicles with a "special motive" to tarnish the image of the airline and the government.​

 

[Saif]

Biman enhances ground handling capacity at 3rd terminal

Biman Bangladesh Airlines enhanced its handling capacity at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal by adding 32 new pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) on Wednesday. The programme titled "New Ground Support Equipment Commissioning 2025," was organised at Biman Bangladesh

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Biman enhances ground handling capacity at 3rd terminal
UNB
Published :
Mar 05, 2025 23:35
Updated :
Mar 05, 2025 23:35

Biman Bangladesh Airlines enhanced its handling capacity at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal by adding 32 new pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) on Wednesday.

The programme titled "New Ground Support Equipment Commissioning 2025," was organised at Biman Bangladesh Airlines' GSE department, according to a press release.

The new equipment, worth Tk 540 million, includes advanced tools for improving ground handling at the newly built Terminal 3 of the airport, according to a press release.

Among the equipment are 2 aircraft container pallet loaders from OSHKOSH, USA; 12 aircraft container pallet transporters and 9 belt loaders from TLD, France; 2 aircraft air conditioning units (115 tonnes) and 5 smaller air conditioning units (65 tonnes) from TLD, USA; and 2 air start units from Guinault, France.

This addition enhances Biman's ground handling capabilities at the airport, further boosting its service efficiency.

Biman has also recently expanded its fleet with four forklifts, five modern passenger coaches, eighteen tow tractors, six belt loaders, two pushback tow tractors, and eight ground power units worth Tk 350 million.

According to the release, six more aircraft passenger steps, four push carts, and four state-of-the-art ambulifts will be added to the fleet.

In addition, 14 aircraft container pallet loaders, 4 potable water carts, 6 flush carts, and 250 baggage trolleys, among others, are under procurement process to continue improving operations, said the press release.

Biman is also recruiting 193 new employees, including assistant managers, GSE operators, and mechanics.

These efforts are part of Biman's commitment to improving its ground handling standards and providing better service at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Abdul Muyid Chowdhury, chairman of Biman's Board of Directors; Air Vice Marshal Md. Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh; and Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, were present.​

 

[Saif]

https://www.thedailystar.net/life-living/travel/news/mideast-routes-govt-intervention-cuts-airfares-75-says-atab-3852636

Mideast routes: Govt intervention cuts airfares by 75%, says ATAB

Airfares, particularly for flights to Saudi Arabia, have dropped by nearly 75% following government intervention and stricter regulations, according to the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).

Between December and February, passengers faced exorbitant fares for flights from Dhaka to major Saudi cities, with prices soaring to Tk 190,000 under group booking schemes.

However, ticket prices have now dropped significantly, with fares as low as Tk 48,000 to Tk 50,000 following government interventions. Some airlines are even offering tickets for Dhaka-Dammam and Dhaka-Riyadh routes for as little as Tk 35,000, it said.

To curb rising airfares and ensure market discipline, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism issued a directive on February 11, enforcing stricter regulations on ticket bookings.

The directive aims to enhance transparency and eliminate artificially inflated prices for key destinations such as Jeddah, Madinah, Dammam, and Riyadh. Under the new rules, tickets must be booked with the passenger's name, passport details, and a photocopy of the passport. This measure has led airlines to release previously blocked tickets, increasing seat availability in reservation systems.

As a result, both passengers and travel agencies now have real-time access to ticket fares and seat availability, fostering competition and driving prices down.

In a statement, ATAB praised the government's intervention as a timely and necessary step to ease financial pressure on travelers, particularly migrant workers who rely on affordable air travel.

"This initiative benefits not only passengers but also the travel industry by ensuring a more transparent and competitive market. We are grateful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism for taking this decisive step," said ATAB Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh.

However, Afsia stressed the need for continued government oversight.

"Strengthened monitoring and regulatory enforcement will be essential to prevent airlines from reverting to old practices," she added, calling for additional laws to maintain market stability and protect consumers from inflated prices in the future.

"If effectively enforced, this initiative is expected to bring lasting changes to the air ticket industry, benefiting Bangladeshi passengers, particularly migrant workers," she said.

ATAB also acknowledged the contributions of Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul, Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, and Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Begum Nasrin Jahan in addressing the issue.

With the directive and ongoing monitoring, ATAB remains optimistic that Bangladesh's air travel market will stay disciplined and tickets will remain affordable.

Earlier this year, on January 26, ATAB urged government intervention during a press conference, calling for immediate action against soaring ticket costs and market syndication.​

 

[Saif]

https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/caabs-monopoly-barrier-aviation-growth-3863586

CAAB’s monopoly is a barrier to aviation growth

Now is the time to rein in CAAB’s monopolisation over the country's airports, and ensure that they are run by competent, professional, and an accountable manpower. File photo: Palash Khan

In Bangladesh, airlines are often the primary target of complaints about poor services, both from passengers and the media. While some of these grievances are justified, not all issues can be attributed solely to the airlines.

General passengers may not realise that nearly 30 years after airline privatisation, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) still has a full monopoly on the country's airport and aviation infrastructure.

CAAB's bureaucrats, lacking accountability, have squandered crores in the name of airport development since the 1990s, seeking billions for unnecessary and wasteful projects. It submitted an exorbitant Tk 10,000 crore funding request to the government to extend Saidpur airport's runway from 6,000 feet to 10,000 feet in the name of regional connectivity. The question is: did CAAB conduct a business case with a detailed financial forecast to justify its funding request?

According to CAAB, the project will transform the Saidpur airport into an international one as well as a regional cargo hub. The extended runway would be able to accommodate larger aircraft carrying over 300 people, targeting passenger as well as cargo aircraft from Nepal, Bhutan, and India's Seven Sisters.

According to media reports, in 2019, Nepal expressed interest in enhancing regional connectivity by establishing direct flights between its small regional airports—Bhadrapur and Biratnagar—and Saidpur in Bangladesh. Both of the Nepali airports have a single 5,000-foot runway. Saidpur airport, with a lower altitude and longer runway (6,000 feet), can accommodate much larger aircraft than the Bhadrapur and Biratnagar airports. Meanwhile, Bhutan, due to its high altitude and mountainous terrain, does not have an airport capable of handling as large an aircraft as Saidpur can.

Moreover, Saidpur is the farthest Bangladeshi airport from the population centres in the Seven Sisters region. Bangladesh's three existing international airports—Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet—despite being closer, have no direct air service with that region in India.

Even after spending billions of dollars on constructing three under-utilised 10,000-foot runways outside Dhaka (Chattogram, Sylhet, and Cox's Bazar), CAAB continues to push the false narrative that an airport must have a 10,000-foot runway to operate international flights. In reality, the primary requirement for an airport to be designated "international" is the presence of a customs and immigration facility. To establish regional connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan, Saidpur simply requires a customs and immigration processing facility—not a costly, billion-dollar runway expansion. Its existing runway is sufficient to accommodate flights from Bhadrapur and Biratnagar airports in Nepal and any airport in Bhutan.

Besides, one can take the Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport in Greece as a case in point. It handled over 600,000 passengers across Europe in 2024 utilising a 5,341-foot runway.

The development of Bogura airport can also be presented as another example of rampant waste and incompetence.

In January 2025, CAAB announced that Bogura airport needed a 1,300-foot runway expansion, costing taxpayers Tk 1,200 crore. It would take two years to start commercial service, it said.

The existing runway and passenger processing facilities at Bogura airport may require some repairs and upgrades to initiate commercial operations, but not an expensive and prolonged runway expansion.

Despite receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer funding and benefiting from low labour costs, CAAB, which serves as the regulator, promoter, and sole provider of airports and air traffic control services, has yet to succeed in building a healthy aviation sector.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the total economic impact of aviation in Bangladesh is only $5.3 billion, compared to over $17 billion in other similarly sized economies, such as Denmark and Vietnam. Vietnam's commercial jet fleet is nearly eight times larger than that in Bangladesh. Even more concerning is that Bangladesh's aviation industry lacks the skilled workforce and infrastructure to effectively operate and maintain a fleet of only 25 commercial jets.

The civil aviation authority has also not been able to attract a single airline from regions outside the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East to operate flights to Bangladesh. This has tremendously impacted the country's connectivity, trade, remittance flow, and overall economic growth.

Unless CAAB is restructured solely as a regulatory body and airport operations are spun off into separate entities, Bangladesh will keep facing challenges in building a globally competitive aviation industry.

To run the country's airports, Bangladesh could adopt the Canadian model, where each airport is leased to a non-profit organisation comprising local and national stakeholders. These organisations would compete with one another and take full responsibility for funding the operation and development of airports, operating independently without government or political interference. The government will be able to collect a substantial amount of revenue from the airports in the form of lease payments, VAT, and other passenger-specific taxes.

The July uprising has allowed us to question those in power. Now is the time to rein in CAAB's monopolisation over the country's airports, and ensure that they are run by competent, professional, and an accountable manpower.

Erfan Chowdhury is a US-based consultant working in the aerospace and defence industry.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh - a graveyard for private airlines!

Lower operational expenses and streamlined regulations are two of the most critical factors that contribute to entrepreneurial growth, investment, and job creation. Recognising this, governments worldwide are seeking ways to reduce the cost of doing business and create investment-friendly environme

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh - a graveyard for private airlines!
Published :
Apr 20, 2025 22:42
Updated :
Apr 20, 2025 22:42

Lower operational expenses and streamlined regulations are two of the most critical factors that contribute to entrepreneurial growth, investment, and job creation. Recognising this, governments worldwide are seeking ways to reduce the cost of doing business and create investment-friendly environments by addressing regulatory hurdles. In the United States, this commitment is reflected in the appointment of Elon Musk-renowned for his emphasis on efficiency and innovation in the private sector-as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. In this role, Musk is actively engaged in identifying and implementing cost-saving measures across government agencies. In contrast, Bangladesh appears to be moving in the opposite direction. The cost of doing business continues to rise, driven by increasing tax burdens and tariff hikes on utility services, while regulatory measures, in most cases, remain rigid. The country's aviation sector presents a glaring example of how policy flaws can stifle the growth of promising ventures and ultimately force them out of the market. According to a Financial Express report, no fewer than eight private airlines have been forced to cease their operation over the past two decades, while the remaining three are struggling to stay afloat. One of them, NovoAir is reportedly on the verge of shutting down.

The challenges facing private airlines in sustaining operations in Bangladesh are multifaceted. While some hurdles have emerged naturally, many others have been imposed by unfavourable policy decisions. One natural challenge is the decline in domestic air travel, driven largely by the rapid expansion of road and rail connectivity. For example, the construction of the Padma Bridge has significantly reduced air travel by passengers on Dhaka-Barishal and Dhaka-Jashore routes. Still, stakeholders believe the root cause of private airlines' misery lies not in improved road connectivity, but in the country's aviation policy framework, which remains far from business-friendly.

One glaring issue is the price disparity in jet fuel-local airlines pay up to 15 per cent more than foreign carriers. In addition, regulatory roadblocks such as excessive surcharges, 30-35 per cent tax on tickets, high aeronautical, landing, and parking fees further compound the sector's woes. The annual surcharge imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) stands at a staggering 72 per cent, compared to just 12-18 per cent in India, 2.0 per cent in Pakistan, 8.0 per cent in Singapore, and 10 per cent in Oman. Clearly, this high rate of surcharge is counterproductive. Once private airlines fall into arrears with surcharge payments, recovery becomes nearly impossible. GMG Airlines, United Airways, and Regent Airways have been forced to ground their fleets as surcharge debts accumulated, according to aviation analysts. Regent Airways, the most recent airline to cease operations, owes Tk 2.83 billion in surcharges; United Airways owes Tk 3.55 billion, and GMG Airlines Tk 3.68 billion, according to data from the CAAB. Driven by these excessive operational costs and regulatory measures, the country's aviation sector has virtually turned into a graveyard for private airlines.

A paradigm shift in policy is, therefore, crucial to fostering the growth and viability of local airlines. Firstly, the entire cost structure imposed on local airlines must be urgently revisited. Secondly, the current taxation regime and the imposition of excessive surcharges need radical reform. Thirdly, the role of the CAAB must evolve beyond that of a mere regulatory body towards one that actively facilitates the growth and development of the aviation industry. Without a transformative policy change, the market share of local airlines will continue to shrink, paving the way for foreign carriers to dominate the Bangladesh skies, capturing the economic benefits and potentially leaving local travellers with fewer choices and compelling them to pay higher fares in the long run.​